A very long few chapters, coming your way. Based on the Alice Madness Returns Game. The sequel to American McGee's Alice.
Sora waited outside as the others got ready to leave. He wasn't really in any hurry since the next world was going to be him mostly checking in on Alice. He hoped they didn't mind though. Heartless hardly ever popped up there after his first visit. It was just a world he liked to go too. It wasn't just Wonderland that caught his attention but Alice herself was the only other reason. Even if she had changed due to losing her family, both respected the other and saw the other as a dear friend. No matter what was going on. He saved her in the last adventure and after that fell out of contact. He only found out about the fire by going to the world. The memory of why was blurred but it was due to Donald making him mad. He sorta left Goofy and Donald...in some world for that world. He really had to get that temper more in check though, even if it wasn't that bad as it once was.
Wonderland
Chapter 49
When he didn't hear any steps, he put his headset on and pressed play. Not really caring what song played since it was probably not gonna be on for long. The group made sure that music was just never played during battle due to talking. It wasn't like he didn't see the Nobodies or Heartless either. Yes, he needed glasses but the glasses helped him see the beasts they fought. SO music was okay and it wasn't distracting. It just helped focus the mind on the task at hand. Talking was better left for when it wasn't a battle. Now if it was against someone powerful...then and only then would he actually unequip the headset but until then. The pair would be around his neck and used in minor battles. Something no one could stop nor take away from him now.
Stardust and Goldust flying after the fairy had him watch the three. Tinkerbell was giving the dragons a hard time by not letting either dragon tag her from the looks of the game. It was cute to watch the three get along. Especially since he was gonna send Tink into her gem and the dragons to bed once he got to Wonderland. No way was he dragging them along. When the fairy flew behind him, he caught the dragons and helped them get around and manage to finally catch the little fairy. He thought they'd use the end of their wings since they had that claw there to walk on but instead, they simply licked her face. The brunet burst laughing at her usually nice hair now soaked and flopped down on her face.
"I'm sorry Tink. I shouldn't laugh." The keyblade wielder covered his mouth and created fire in his hands for her to stand near and dry off. She even landed on his wrist and stood close to it. "There now you two, you got her so no more."
The dragons just trilled and returned his shoulder and head. Tink watched fire die then disperse from his hand before claiming her spot on top of Stardust. By that point, the brunet pulled the headset off. Spotting Roxas and Axel walking out of the manson now with Riku behind and closing the door. He turns the music off and adjusted the headset. Changing his shorts and tank top into a pair of jeans, a normal t-shirt with a musical note on it and red plaid shirt over it with the sleeves rolled up. The braided tail was loose now but still pulled back. He smiled at the three then turned and started towards the save point close by. The three of them now running to catch up, even as he stepped into the light and got onto the ship. He wasn't even that fast but he was at the cockpit door when Roxas got on and inside in the chair once Axel got on. Riku being last and making sure the ship door was closed.
"So where too?" Axel asks walking into the cockpit and sitting in one of the chairs. "Or did you already have a destination in mind?"
Sora glanced towards him, "I have one in mind. Though I don't think it's one you and Roxas, let alone Riku should follow me into. Mostly due to the...lack of insanity. So it would be best if you guys and the dragons stayed here."
"Why can't we visit Wonderland?" Riku scoffs. "You don't trust us, do you?"
The brunet laughed but it didn't sound right but then he had a more sinister tone when he spoke, "Oh contraire, I trust you. I just don't want to explain myself when I get to Wonderland, understood?"
The shudder Riku's body created was visible to Roxas and Axel.
"Got it." He quickly nodded.
"Besides," Sora's tone returned to normal. "She doesn't trust you period."
He flew the ship away the Islands and activated a warp gummi. Ignoring how quiet the others were until the ship safely exited the warp gate and slowed to a stop before some familiar worlds. Roxas even pointed to the map on the screen and read outloud some of the worlds he seemed to know. The brunet knew why the blond knew them. Despite being his own person, Roxas still had seen most of the memories worldwise when he was part of him. It made sense that the blond would recognize a few. The keyblade master covered his smile and muffled his amused laugh. Flying towards one and parking the ship there. Riku commented that the once bright world looked...darker now. Like the world suffered something catastrophic and barely survived whatever struck it. Sora stood and set the ship to hover in one spot. Leaving the dragons in his chair with Tink's gem as theirs to guard. She wasn't happy but he couldn't risk her coming along.
"I want to come along," Axel stood, making him stop. "Please?"
"At least take me and Axel, we won't judge you. You know that." Says Roxas.
The brunet let a groan out but threw his hands to show he would let them. It had the two follow him to the exit then stop at the long, long drop down. The two had the same look he had the first time. Were they gonna make the long fall? Would they die before they hit the ground. He just sighed and backed up. Making the two follow his every step, even as he ran towards the door and then jumped right out. Falling before either could catch him. Making it all the more hilarious as he looked up and saw them now falling and trying to not spin too much in the air.
"It's okay!" He shouted at the two. "You won't die! Just looks like you will!"
"That doesn't help!" Screams Axel and Roxas back at him.
Before he got close to the ground, the world slowed his decent. Allowing him to touch down safely without incident. Giving him the chance to look at the new attire the world had forced him into. Rules were rules though and he had to at least fit in with what the world looked like. A very thick black waist coat with a plain tan vest under it that had the pocket watch from his wonderland with the chain attached to the petticoat itself and the watch shoved into a pocket. Underneath the petticoat was a slim formal shirt that had the ribbon from last time but instead of a necklace, the star was now pinned to it. The pants were the same material as the jacket and the same color to match and the shoes matched as well. His long hair was still pulled back though and the usually messy downward spikes now had been tidied up.
"Seems I have to look very formal in this world now. Great…" He sighs as he turned to see Axel and Roxas touch the ground slowly, looking relieved to be alive.
Axel was the first one he noticed. Where he got black, Axel got brown and it looked like his but instead it had a top hat, cane, cufflinks and cravat. He looked quite dapper in it too. Maybe the redhead had a future in fashion, once this was all said and done. The blond had his wandering eyes next. He saw now cane or top hat but the cufflinks were there and this time it was an ascot that had the crown pinned to it. He had a gray version of what he wore.
"Well, at least we all look good." Axel comments, wolfwhislting toward the blond. "Wait...we can do that in public here, right?" He leaned against the cane with one hand. "I mean we aren't from here so we are okay."
"Yeah, no. This time era here doesn't exactly condone two men, let alone three dating. You can't be seen checking any man, including me and Roxas out. If they do, they might deem you a sinner and do whatever it is they do." Sora informs them. "From this point, we have to at least be straight. In Wonderland, we can gay it out but now in this place."
"That's stupid but I get it. We'll keep it in check...best as we can.." The blond held his hands up at Sora's glare. "I'm sorry, you and him look great to me. I can't help the wandering eyes."
The brunet shook his head and turned his back to them. Walking away but hearing them follow behind shortly. He could only hope they kept their gazes in check. In any other world, eyeing him would be no issue. It wouldn't really be acknowledged but it wasn't a problem to him. It was flattering but here it wasn't welcome. This particular time period wasn't forgiving for anyone outside the norm. It was shunned, seen as evil or if he guessed right with how they were more into the science of medicine and curing lunacy...worth locking up. It wasn't worth risking anything; including their freedom. Sadly though, Axel wasn't one to conform and the blond was the same. Neither liked it but Sora was able to adjust to look as if he followed the norm but reality didn't. It was easier to pretend then go against.
"You look quite handsome Sora. Even from the back," Axel's comment made him groan inwardly.
They were in public now, not in private. Did he have to say it that way?
"Thanks...keep it to yourself next time." He says walking around the corner of a gated large home with at least three stories from the looks of it or more.
His eyes found the place to be a bit dingy though and looked to be in need of some repair in some places. Not enough to cause stress over but enough to notice that time had started to make the home a little less...welcoming. He looked away and down to see Alice herself now walking of the place. She looked much thinner now. Dark circles under eyes revealing lack of sleep and her hair was short and looked as if she had chopped half of it off herself. The dress she wore was brown with a white apron tied around her body as per usual. Leggings that matched her dress plus shoes and the only source of color was the undershirt she wore; light blue and brown stripes with the sleeves ending close to the wrist.
"Another day. A different dream, perhaps." She sighs stopping just outside the house.
It was then she noticed him and stared.
"You took your sweet time," She crossed her arms. "I half expected you to come the moment I wrote back to you."
"Sorry, matters got out of hand and I became unavailable but I am here now. I'll try to amend what I have torn." Sora nods. "Though, in retrospect...you failed to mention you had been released from the Asylum in your last letter. So I am not exactly the only one that left information out."
They saw her look away with slight disgust at the reveal of her own lack of tact.
"Quite true but I have reasons that most certainly beat yours. The least you can do is own up and escort me to the High Street Chemist I have to see."
Axel and Roxas glanced at Sora, expecting him to say no but instead saw him walk over and offer his arm to Alice. Accepting the terms and letting her take his offered arm. Turning to them for a second and saying to follow him if they wished to move on. Both then started to walk down the street talking, if Alice mostly speaking could consider it a conversation. The two ran to keep up but never get close.
"I expected Sora to reply back with disdain not go quiet…" Axel says.
"Seems Sora just lets Alice do whatever but I doubt that is actually the case. I think to blend in, he kinda...lets her be what keeps him safe from being singled out as weird." Roxas shrugs. "Have you noticed that he hasn't taken his hands from his pockets when we were close? He kept them covered, as if he wants to hide from the underlying tone in this world. I think it's his way of keeping his own...secret just that. A secret."
"Makes sense...he is quite feminine so it must be odd already to these people huh?" Axel sighs.
They passed an alley where lots of kids were playing in the far back or talking in a hushed whisper. They went towards a bridge high above with the sign: Whitechapel Market on it. It was as old and decrepit as the buildings around them. This world didn't look very stable. Why did Sora have to come here exactly? What was in it for him outside of checking in on Alice, who looked as bad as everyone else in this damnable place.
"So who are the two gentlemen behind us? One can only assume they are...of specific company?" Alice asks making Roxas and Axel nervous.
Sora looked back at them then away, "Yes but you should know what kind of company I would prefer." He says. "The blond is Roxas and the redhead is Axel. Both are...yes, specific company."
They got nervous but Sora didn't seem nervous. Alice must be trustworthy if he could trust her without any hesitation. They continued down under the bridge and then turned left to a very small market. One containing about 6 maybe 7 stands selling food near a meat store called Hardwicke's Fine Meats. The state wasn't just sad to them but depressing to think that this was the only place could buy food in this small section what they could only assume to be a larger city. One that seemed to have remnants of smog covering everything, including the cement they walked on. Was the food even safe to consume? Let alone cook at this rate then? What did they do if they got sick? Who did they go to if this High Street Chemist wasn't available? The questions kept piling up and yet both knew that not even Sora, who questioned everything would get an answer. All they could do, was what the brunet was doing currently; accept the cold reality around them and move on best as they could.
They followed the silent pair now through the small market and then saw a white cat capture both Sora's and Alice's attention right away. Making Sora release her arm and for once pull the other hand free from his pocket to bend down.
"Hey kitty," Sora cooed. "Kitty, kitty, kitty.."
"Hello puss. Puss, puss, puss, puss! Don't be afraid." spoke Alice as well, walking closer towards the cat.
Before Axel could even comment, both ran after the now retreating animal. Roxas following as both saw the market didn't end but currently blocked by what seemed to be cops beating a man on the ground. They couldn't really do anything though so they ran down the alleyway that Sora and Alice had ran down and turned left, The only direction they could turn since the right was blocked by a well. The two caught sight of the back of Alice's bow and Sora's hair turn a corner. They turned as well and in time to see them turn right down the rest of the alley and then stop at the end. They lost the animal it seems by them looking about small places around the area of..what looked to be a brothel of sorts? It looked like one judging by how one woman's dress was revealing the girls and was fit tightly around her body and the other currently asking a man to keep her "company" inside for the evening.
This area didn't look any better than the last one but it had more people currently lounging around looking drunk so at least they were healthy enough to work to get money for that right? The two couldn't take the sights in much longer though since it seems both caught sight of the cat. Running right on ahead again with Axel and Roxas following past another building and into a dead end fenced off by metal and stone archways. A small alley served as the only exit that their comrades had run through.
"Seems following furry creatures into dark holes has become a habit. I hope it's not a vice." they heard Alice speak.
"If so, then perhaps we both have it since I too am following this cat," Laughs Sora. "oh well, we'll have to see now won't we?"
"Indeed so." Alice muses as they kept running.
Finally the two seemed to stop running when they reached a smoke filled back alley. It was too hard to really see the buildings at all, let alone a white cat. Even they seemed to lost track of the creature. Looking about again and trying to find it.
"Now where did that cat go?" Sora mused, looking around until both stopped and backed up from something.
It looked like a rabbit...on a human body with glowing eyes. It didn't bother Axel or Roxas but neither could get closer. As if a barrier kept them from doing so. They could only watch as more just appeared. They beat at the barrier even as Alice and Sora were now back to back, surrounded by the creatures. Until a hand and voice broke whatever happened.
"Oh, my stars and garters, Alice Liddell! Slumming again, are we?" An old woman says making them all jump at the sound of her voice.
Sora looked ready to just die then and there, even as Roxas and Axel ran to his side and checked on him.
"Nurse Witless, what luck. Twice in as many months" Alice scoffed looking back at Sora then at her again.
"Oh and who are these fine gentleman? Your friends deary?"
She simply nodded for an answer then seemed to look around; as if making sure those things weren't coming back. Even got Sora to glance around in worry.
"Out on your own? You look frazzled dearie, not doing well?" Witless's condescending tone poke.
To which Alice replied with a simple, reluctant: "Not really."
"Come along home then and look at my pigeons. Pretty birds…" Nurse Witless said. "Like you."
"I don't think so…" Alice crossed her arms. "Our last visit cost me several pounds and got me nowhere."
Axel and Roxas caught Sora's worry look right to Alice at those words.
"I might recall where your mangy rabbit got too~"
